Agro-processing, road to Nigeria’s industrial revolutions —Stakeholders

Stakeholders in Nigeria’s agriculture sector have emphasized the need for the country to be actively involved in agro-processing activities to revive its ailing economy and save it from total collapse.

This was made known recently at an agricultural stakeholders and role modeling event organized by Folake Oyewole, a member of staff of Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO) and beneficiary of the African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) programme.

The event which was held at the premise of the Animal Care Consult, Ogere, Ogun State was attended by agriculture experts, teachers and students from two secondary schools in Remo part of the state.

Speaking at the event, the organiser, Oyewole, lamented that, Nigeria like other developing countries has done very little to harness the potentials to be gained by adding value to their “straight from the farm” agriculture products.

She said considering the fact that, Nigeria is blessed with a vast fauna and flora, agro-processing can have a great impact in accelerating the country’s industrialisation, Latin thus boosting her economy.

In her speech titled “Agro-processing for Accelerated industrialization:  Nigeria’s Future” The Director-General of FITRO, Dr Elemo, said agro-processing and agro-allied industries are one of the industry groups that Nigeria has a comparative advantage in as it strives to build up its industrial capacity.

“This industry group is one of our lowest hanging fruits and we have not as yet fully explored its potential for propelling Nigeria towards industrialization,” she said, while highlighting the benefit of agro-processing to a nation to include food security, wealth creation, job creation, reduction of poverty and diversification of the economy.